‘Why are you getting rid of Mohammed Siraj’: Ex-India spinner baffled by pacer’s exclusion in 1st ODI

New Delhi: Former India spinner Murali Kartik was left baffled by Mohammed Siraj’s exclusion from India’s playing XI in the against New Zealand in Auckland on Wednesday, November 04. Siraj was dropped as India went with the pace quartet of Arshdeep Singh, Anshul Kamboj, Aauqib Nabi and Gurnoor Brar in the game.

Siraj, who was once a regular across all three formats for, seems to have fallen in the pecking order in ODIs. The pacer has played only ten ODIs for India since the start of 2024, and his last appearance in the format came during the West Indies series at home last month.

With Jasprit Bumrah rested from the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand, Siraj was expected to lead India’s pace attack. However, the team management preferred to give a chance to the likes of Brar, Nabi, Kamboj and Arshdeep.

While it could be argued that the team management wanted to give Siraj adequate rest after he featured in the two red-ball games for India A against New Zealand A recently, Kartik questioned why the team has lost faith in the experienced pacer’s abilities in ODIs.

“I am trying to figure it out, because what is it? Gurnoor has gone for 96 or 97 runs twice now. Aaqib Nabi did really well in Ranji Trophy cricket. Why are you getting rid of Mohammed Siraj from the playing XI? What wrong has he done?” Kartik said on Cricbuzz.

Siraj, who made his ODI debut for India in January 2019, has so far played 51 matches in the fifty-over format and has 77 wickets to his name at an average of 25.67. He was excluded from India’s Champions Trophy squad last year, a move that surprised many.

Siraj is your best bowler: Kartik

Kartik argued Siraj is India’s best pacer in the absence of pace spearhead Bumrah and should be playing consistently to ensure he is in rhythm. The former India spinner also questioned why Kuldeep Yadav has not been given a long run in ODIs.

Kuldeep was snubbed from India’s playing XI in the first ODI on Wednesday as the visitors went with four specialist pacers in the playing XI. Kartik hoped for more game time for both Siraj and Kuldeep as India continue to prepare for the ODI World Cup next year.

“I hope Siraj gets a gig, because in the last series against West Indies, he played only one game. I want him because he’s been your best bowler, he has been the leader of the pack, and I just want to see Kuldeep Yadav play as well, because he needs to get a run,” said Kartik.